U.S. EPA Honors General Motors Corporation

FOR RELEASE: November 13, 2001

U.S. EPA Honors General Motors Corporation

DETROIT - What does General Motors Corporation (GM) have in common with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Walt Disney World, and Sandia National Laboratories? They are among 54 organizations that will be recognized at an awards ceremony in the nation's capital for their extraordinary accomplishments in reducing waste. GM will receive the Partner of the Year award for very large businesses from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WasteWise Program.

GM, an automobile manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, employs more than 350,000 people in more than 70 North American facilities. Recognizing that the waste stream often contains valuable resources, the company is implementing Resource Management, a holistic approach to waste management contracting that seeks to reduce waste disposal through a process of prevention, reuse, and recycling. GM plans to fully implement RM in all its North American facilities by the end of 2001. To name just a few examples, GM reused building materials and eliminated some uses of corrugated packaging and office paper. Through product engineering improvements, GM reduced the amount of steel scrap and lifetime brake part waste associated with its line of full-size sport utility vehicles. The company saved more than $100 million by recycling more than 1.5 million tons of material, including corrugated boxes, mixed plastics, aluminum, steel, iron, and wood. GM also understands the importance of closing the loop by purchasing items with recycled content. In 2000, GM incorporated more than 3,500 tons of recycled-content plastic, textile, and rubber components into its automobiles.

GM is a partner in the EPA's WasteWise program, which unites more than 1,160 businesses, government agencies, and institutions in an effort to reduce waste. This program is free, voluntary, and fosters cooperation among people working to find practical methods to reduce municipal solid waste and improve financial performance. Each year, EPA formally recognizes those partners that achieve significant waste reduction results at an awards ceremony, which will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, on November 14, 2001.

For further information about the November 14, 2001, Awards and Recognition Ceremony, contact the WasteWise Helpline at 800 EPA-WISE (372-9473). For general program information, visit the WasteWise Web site at www.epa.gov/wastewise.